Seattle Animal Shelter news and events

Archives for January 2013

If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent for cats and kittens from the Seattle Animal Shelter, plan to attend a free orientation session, offered the first Sunday of each month – this month on Feb. 3 – from 2-3:30 p.m. The session will be held in the upper level conference room of the shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W.

Please sign up for the orientation by emailing sasfostercatsorientation@gmail.comno later than 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 2. Once you have signed up, you will receive an orientation packet to bring with you. Orientation will be cancelled if there are no sign-ups.

The Seattle Animal Shelter relies on volunteers to provide temporary foster care in their homes to rehabilitate and nurture sick, injured and immature cats and kittens or to just give adoptable cats a break from the shelter environment.

“Volunteers have told us this is a perfect project for the whole family and provides an opportunity for children to learn about the joys and responsibilities of having an animal without making a long-term commitment,” says Shelter Director Don Jordan. “The ultimate beneficiaries are the pets who are nurtured by their foster families, and the families who adopt them.”

Jordan says the foster care program is quite simple. You provide food and a temporary home; the Seattle Animal Shelter will provide any necessary veterinary care. The shelter’s “Help the Animals Fund” subsidizes the costs associated with the foster care program including all pre-approved vet care.

If you attend an orientation session you are under no obligation to foster an animal. The orientations are just the first step in the process. Each prospective foster parent is provided with a foster-care manual and a “case manager” who provides advice and answers questions.

SEATTLE — Have your kids been begging for a pet of their own? If you’re ready to give in, but are still afraid you don’t have the space for a dog or maybe someone in your household is allergic to cats, the Seattle Animal Shelter has the perfect solution: start small.

Come on down to the shelter on Saturday, Jan. 19, for Cool City Pets, an adoption event highlighting small animals looking for their forever homes. From 1p.m.-3 p.m., potential adopters can meet the many small animals available for adoption from the shelter, including: rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, birds, reptiles, ferrets, mice and more.

Volunteer small-animal specialists will be on hand to help adopters find the right pet for them. They provide information about each animal’s characteristics and needs, demonstrate basic care and handling skills, and answer questions. The Seattle Animal Shelter features Cool City Pets the third Saturday of every month.

All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Animals may be adopted by adults only. Adopters must be prepared to provide proper housing, food, water, toys and other materials necessary for the care and good health of the animal. The adoption fee for small animals ranges from $15-$40.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at 2061 15th Ave. W, about a mile south of the Ballard Bridge. If you would like more information or directions, please call (206) 386-PETS(7387) or visit the shelter’s website at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon-6 p.m. for adoptions and for licensing.

The Seattle Animal Shelter reserves the right to approve or deny any animal adoptions and limits the number of small animal adoptions to no more than three per household.

Local weather forecasters are predicting bitter cold weather with a possibility of snow in the Seattle area through the beginning of next week. The Seattle Animal Shelter reminds all pet owners that winter weather poses special risks to pets. When temperatures fall, pets need extra care to help keep them comfy, cozy, healthy and safe. In an effort to help those dogs that are left outside, the shelter is also soliciting new and used dog igloos and doghouses so that they may be redistributed to pet owners in need.

“Each fall and winter season, thousands of pets are left out in the cold with little or no refuge,” says Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan. “Pet owners need to take extra precautions during cold weather to prevent a potential tragedy from befalling their beloved pets.”

Jordan offers the following advice this winter:

Dogs and cats can get frostbitten ears, noses and feet if left outside. Bring pets indoors during cold weather and take them out only when necessary.

Pets love the smell and taste of antifreeze and even a small amount can kill them. Clean up spills at once and be alert for antifreeze on the ground or left out in open containers that have not been properly stored or disposed of.

If your dog must remain outside for a period of time, provide an elevated dog house with clean, dry bedding and a flap over the opening to keep drafts out. The door should face away from the west or north to avoid cold winds. Consider installing a “doggie” door so your pet can seek protection from cold weather in your garage. Check water bowls to make sure they are not frozen and avoid using metal bowls as your pet’s tongue could stick to the frozen metal.

Gently towel or blow-dry your dog or cat if he or she gets wet from rain or snow. It is important to dry and clean paws as well. This helps avoid tiny cuts and cracked pads. Remember that chemicals used to melt snow and ice on driveways and sidewalks can burn your pet, so check the paws, mouth and belly after a walk.

Make sure your pet has a current Seattle pet license and always use a leash. When walking on snow, dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. A pet license is your best insurance your pet will be returned to you.

Cats and kittens often nap on warm car engines and hoods. If your car was recently used, knock on the hood or honk the car horn before starting the engine.

Help your elderly or arthritic pets when they need to go outside.

Consider a sweater for short-coated breeds, such as Greyhounds and Chihuahuas, before taking them outside but choose wisely. Sweaters made from certain fibers don’t insulate when they get wet and can actually remove heat from an animal’s body. Avoid sweaters made of cotton; wool and some synthetics provide insulation, even when wet.

Do not leave your pet alone in a car. It gets too cold and can quickly become a freezer, causing hypothermia and possibly death.

Be careful of fireplaces and portable heaters; keep fireplaces screened and heaters out of reach as a pet may chew the cord or knock it over and cause a fire.

Like people, dogs and cats are more susceptible to illnesses in the winter. Take your pet to your veterinarian if symptoms occur.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions, donations and licensing. It is located at 2061 – 15th Ave. W. The phone number is (206) 386-7387 (PETS). More information at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The Seattle Animal Shelter will host a cat adoptathon on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Northgate Petco, 318 NE Northgate Way, Seattle. The event runs from noon to 3 p.m. and features numerous kittens and cats of different breeds. Cats available at this event have been living with foster parents, who are available at the event to share information about the personality and habits of the cats with potential adopters, helping to make a perfect match!

“With our monthly neighborhood adoptathons, we hope to continue to spread the word about the joys and value of adopting shelter pets and saving lives. If you have room in your home and your heart for an orphaned animal, this is a great opportunity to come and see some of the wonderful pets available from our foster-care parents,” says Don Jordan, Seattle Animal Shelter director.

The Seattle Animal Shelter has a foster-care program to care for dogs and cats in volunteers’ homes. Donations from the City’s “Help the Animals Fund” pay for all necessary supplies and veterinary care for these animals while they are being fostered.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions, donations and licensing. It is located at 2061 – 15th Ave. W. The phone number is (206) 386-7387 (PETS). More information at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.